Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Windslash: The Last Elemental by Chris Bennett

An unlikely hero rises to save the world from a dormant evil in Windslash: The Last Elemental by Chris Bennett, an imaginative and energetic debut fantasy.

On the mythical island of Atlantis, a young student of the Wind named Timaeus discovers an incredible ability: he is able to tap into all four elemental powers – wind, fire, earth, and water – a rare gift only mentioned in prophecy and legend. This unexpected prodigy must master all four forms of elemental magic before he loses control or is consumed by his unprecedented access to such raw power. Forced to prove himself […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-08-20T18:26:03+02:00August 20th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Oh F*ck! Dinosaurs! by Dave Bruno

Sardonically echoing Jurassic Park, Alien, and other classic stories of predatory monsters, Oh F*ck! Dinosaurs! by Dave Bruno is an amusing escape that also doubles as a character study of survival during times of absolute chaos.

A dozen post-collegiate friends with a whole trunk of tangled baggage embark on a weekend in the remote mountains of northern California. Rumors of savage animal attacks in the area and their own interpersonal conflicts already threaten their peaceful plans for hiking, camping, and some tipsy debauchery, but when this mismatched crew mistakenly enters a restricted government area, they wander their way […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-08-18T16:11:31+02:00August 18th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound by Stephen E. Johnson

Poignant and warming to the soul, Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound: Tales about Brotherhood from Bear Creek by Stephen E. Johnson is a reflective memoir, diving into the perennial power of family, place, and nature to help renew bonds and enliven the spirit.

Sliding decades backward into the past, readers are welcomed into the intimacy of a family still finding its feet out in the country, away from the tumult of city life. Three brothers gather in a beloved cabin for a weekend of escape and remembrance in the wilderness of the Cascades, falling into the comfort of siblings sharing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-09-09T08:48:56+02:00August 13th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: The True North Talks by John D. Kingston

A thrilling glimpse into the deadly backdoors of political power in Canada and beyond, The True North Talks by John D. Kingston crackles with contemporary tension and tongue-in-cheek critique.

A government whistleblower is shot dead on a tarmac before he can expose damning secrets about a shadowy cabal maneuvering for Quebec’s full independence. Six months later, a handsome movie star turned politician, Alex Archer, is sworn in as Canada’s newest Prime Minister, but his fervent views on unifying the country have put a target squarely on his back from Quebecois separatists.

Marcel Vanier is the Assistant Director of Canadian Counter-Terrorism […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-09-05T11:54:57+02:00August 12th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Political Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: The Floating Lake of Dressa Moore by George Allen Miller

A visionary and whip-smart fantasy, The Floating Lake of Dressa Moore by George Allen Miller is a whimsical adventure with a brilliantly off-kilter cast.

Lakes, towns, and entire chunks of continents are hanging inexplicably in the sky after an epic clash between the last dragon and the last wizard ripped reality asunder with a magical tsunami. The final moments of those two mystic titans remain immortalized in time, frozen by an explosion of magic. Fascinated and determined to unravel this enigmatic puzzle, two eccentric scholars, Jonathan Braxton and William Watts Worthwaddle, embark on a bold expedition to Dressa, the heart […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-09-04T16:52:27+02:00August 11th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Disconnected and Drifting by Flo Dombey

The tragic echoes of war shake the foundations and faith of a small coastal town in Disconnected and Drifting by Flo Dombey, the prelude piece of her tenderly gripping Willow Chronicle series.

In Lewes, Delaware, a horrific accident and the cover-up shatter the fragile peace of a community still living under the shadow of segregation and post-war suspicion. Chief Meyers, an ex-Marine with a haunted past, investigates the gruesome murder of a young Black boy, but none of the clues make sense, and his eyewitnesses are anything but reliable. With grieving parents on one side and vengeful townsfolk on the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-09-04T11:17:08+02:00August 7th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: $20,000 Under the Sea by Sam Locrian

An exceptional high-stakes drama on the high seas that brims with encroaching horror, $20,000 Under the Sea by Sam Locrian is a timely historical commentary and a masterclass in psychological suspense.

In this alternate historical timeline of 1920, an elite but odd cadre of unusual characters arrive on board The Prince’s Emblazoned, a luxury liner bound for adventure, with gambling on international waters, and a healthy dose of ulterior motives. The larger-than-life quartet of entangled protagonists is set to duke it out in a poker game, which includes a pot that may be big enough to die for. However, there […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-09-03T17:28:01+02:00August 4th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: An Innocent World by Douglas A. King

A long-form thought experiment that presents a feast of fascinating existential questions, An Innocent World by Douglas A. King is an intriguing exploration of mortality and meaning. Thought-provoking for Christians, while simultaneously engaging for theologians, atheists, and agnostics alike, this unique read dissects common misconceptions about faith, offering a paradigm-shifting glimpse at another path for humanity.

This provocative thesis is founded on the premise that Adam and Eve already possessed immortality, rather than being tempted to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil by its promise. King explores a variety of biblical contradictions, envisioning what a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-08-28T12:05:57+02:00July 27th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religion Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|